Combined alarm and signal for dry-pipe sprinkler systems.



C. E. POTTER.

COMBINED ALARM AND SIGNAL FOR DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

- APPLICATION HLED JAN. 30, 1915'- 1,182,206, Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON D c CLE. POTTER.

COMBINED ALARM AND SIGNAL FOR DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED IAN.30| I915.

1,132,206. Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 14 1 Memes MVMM/f CHARLES E. POTTER, OF ST. LQUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED ALARM ANDSIGNAL FOR DRY-PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed January 30, 1915. Serial No. 5,232.

To all il /1077?, it may concern Be it known that I, GHAnLns E. Po'rtrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Alarms and Signals for Dry-Pipe Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the some, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing a device embodying my invention applied for use in connection with a sprinkler systeni. F 2 is a side elevational view ofthe combined alarm and signal with the housing which incloses the same in vertical section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the center of the device with parts thereof broken away. Fig. is a detail ele vational view of certain, of the gears and pinions forminga part of the train ofgear ing or spring-actuated.clock-workmade use of in my improved device. Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view of a stop lever forming a part of the operating, mechanism of my im proved device and also showing certain parts of the mechanism which coiiperates with said step lever. Fig. .6 is a detail elevational view of a torsional spring whichis utilized for moving one of the levers forming a part of the actuating mechanism of the device.

My invention relatesgenerally to auto matic sprinkler and fire alarm systems. and more particularly to a device which will autrunutically transmit to a central station an alarm and signal whenever the equilibrium of the fluid pressure within the pipes of the system disturbed by the openii'ig of one or more of the sprinkler heads resulting from fire'or acc-ident'and which action necessarily results in a lowering of the pressure in the system, i y

The particular formlof device herein illustrated and described is particularly intended for use in connection with what is commonly known as dry pipe sprinkler systems, that is. systems wherein all of the distributing pipes above the check valve in the riser are normally without water and therefore dry.

The principal obj ect of my invention is to provide. a comparatively. .slmple "1neX- pensive apparatus which may be conven iently and advantageously connected to one of the main supply pipes of the system and which device \Vlll in the event of the 013611": ing of one or more adjacent sprinkler heads, transmit to the central station one or more signals which, in addition to giving the alarm, shows the approximate location of theopen sprinkler head.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described with means for automatically transmitting to the central station a signal to show that the spring of the clock work or motor forming a part of the device is fully wound and that the device is properly set for use.

A further object of my invention is to provide certain details or features of improvement which will tend to increase the general etliciency and serviceability of an automatically released alarm and signal of the type to which my invention relates.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully descrihed'and claimed.

Referringby numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates one of the risers of a sprinkler system, 11 one of the lateral distributing pipes the same carrying the usual automatic sprinkler heads such as 12. Located in the riser is an. ordinary gate valve 13 and immediately above the sameis a double check valve l t having an interme diate or neutral chamber 15. Tappedinto the housing of the double check valve and leading from, the intermediate or neutral chambertherein is a short tubular connection 16, the outer end thereof being connected to the base'of my improved signal and alarm device. This base is preferably in the form of a plate 17 provided in its upper portion with a chamber 18 and posi-- tioned on said plate and over said chamber is a diaphragm 19, preferably of thin resilient metal. I 3

."E-ixed on top of plate 17 and overlying the edges of the diaphrarzmis a top plate 20 provided in its underside with a chamber 21 and positioned on top of the central portion of the diaphragm is a vertically disposed pin 22'wliich. extends through an opening formed in the center of plateQO. Pos tioned upon thispin between the diashafts, gearing and operating parts of my improved device. Journaled 1n the lower portions of the 6 plates 25 and near one side thereof is a shaft 26 to which is fixed the inner end of a clock spring 27 the outer end thereof being fixed to one of the cross pieces which unite the plates 25. Fixed on shaft-26 is a gear wheel '28 and also a small disk 29, which latter is provided with a single tooth 30. One end of shaft 26 projects beyond the corresponding one of the plates 25 and said projecting end is made square or noncircular in order to receive a winding key. Gear wheel 28 meshes with a pinion 31, the same being loosely mounted on a shaft 32. which is journaled in plates 25, and said shaft carrying a largegear wheel 33 and a disk 34, the latter being provided in its edge with a notch 35. Fixed to the loosely mounted shaft 31 is a ratchet wheel 36 having a single tooth or, shoulder, the samebeing en gaged by the point of a spring-pressed pawl 37 which is pivotally mounted on gear wheel 33. Gear wheel 33 meshes with a pinion 38 which is fixed on a shaft 39. the same being journaledin plates 25. This shaft carries a gear wheel 40 which meshes with a pinion 41, the same being fixed on a shaft 42 which is j ournaled in plates 25. Fixed on this shaft 42 is a gear wheel 43 which meshes with a pinion-44, the same being fixed on a shaft 45 which is journaled' in.

the same being provided with an eccentric slot 53 through which passes a pin 54, the same being carried by the lower end of arm 49. The edge of disk 52 is provided with a concentric portion a, and with an eccentric portion 6. Formed in the edgeof'disk 52 between the concentric and eccentric edges are two notches 55, the same being spaced a slight distance apart and being adapted to receive the tooth 30 of disk 29. Journaled in plates 25 is a shaft 56 and positioned thereupon is a torsional spring 57, one end of which is fixed to said shaft and the opposite end being fixed to one of the plates 25. Fixed on this shaft is a vertically disposed arm 58, the lower end of which is bent laterally to form a horizontally disposed finger 59, which engages the threaded pin 24 above the nuts 24 thereon. The upper end of this arm 58 is adapted to engage either end of the cross plate 46, thus acting as a stop to hold'the train of gearing against movement.

Spring 57 acts upon shaft'58 so as to normally hold the finger 59 down against the upper one of nuts 24*, and consequently exerting pressure to move the upper end of arm'58 inwardly toward the cross plate 46. Carried by arm 58 above the shaft 56 is a transversely disposed pin 60,,the same being adapted to engage the periphery of disk 34 and to occupy notch 35 therein.

Fixed on shaft 56 is an inwardly projecting arm 61-carrying a pin 62, the same being adapted to engage the concentric and eccentric edges of disk The end of shaft 32 is extended a short distance beyond the front one of plates 25 and fixed thereon and insulated therefrom is a disk 63, the same being provided with a series of teeth 64 which are arranged in groups so as to be instrumental in sending a predetermined signal over the circuit in which the device is located, which signal is registered at a central station. In the present instance I have shown-this disk provided with teeth arranged in three groups of two each and thus this box or station would be known as No. 222 and when in operation will send in a corresponding signal.

Fixed on the front one of plates '25 adjacent to shaft 32 is a bracket 65 in which is positioned a set screw 66 and fixed to and insulated from this bracket is a fiat spring 67 the free end of which occupies a position beneath the screw 66 and said free end being bent at right angles to form a contact finger 68. Fixed to spring 67 is a contact plate 69 and fixed thereto is a fiat spring 70, the free end of which'occupies a position adjacent to the free end'of spring 67 and the end of said spring 70 being bent at right angles to form a contact finger 71 which occupies a position immediately adjacent to contact finger 68. Fixed to contact plate 69 and spring 70 and insulated therefrom is a contact plate 72, the same being provided with 'a'contact point 73 which normally engages the free end of spring 70.

Suitable electric connections 74 lead from the contact plates 69 and 72 to a suitable indicator and recorder 75 located at a central station and this circuit is provided with a suitable battery 76. i

' The operation of my improved device is as follows: It will be understood that'untions and the teeth 64 of disk 63 will engage contact fingers 71 and 68, thereby sending in repeated signals to the central station,

which will indicate the opening of one or more heads in the system. When disk 29 has completed its movement, tooth 30 will engage in the lower one of notches 55, thereby imparting inovementto disk 52 and the the trainer gearing from turther movement.

The circuit in whichthe device and the indicator at the central station are located-is normally closed, and as the teeth 64 pass the contact'points 71 and 68 the circuit is first broken by theen'gagement'of the first tooth with finger 71, thereby raising spring 70 from contact point 73. Immediately after the tooth passes finger 71 the latter drops behind the tooth, thereby'restoring contact between spring 70 and contact point 73, thus momentarily closing the circuit. Immediately after'this action takes place the tooth engages contact finger 68, thereby raising the free end of spring 67 and moving same into engagement with screw 66 carried by plate. 65, thus momentarily grounding the circuit. After the tooth passes contact finger 68 spring 67 returns to normal position and for an instant the circuit is closed. These actions, namely, the breaking, the closing and grounding of the circuit, are repeated for eachtooth carried by the disk 63 and by the reason of the fact that the teeth are arranged in groups a corresponding series of repeated signals in the Shapes of dots and dashes will be recorded by the register and indicated at the central station.

It will'be understood that the operating parts of the ,device are inclosed' in a suitable housing, the same being positioned on plate 20 as shown in Figs. :1 and 2.

A device of my improved construction is comparatively simple, is wholly automatic in operation, transmits to the central station a signal to show that the operating spring is properly wound and that the device is set for use, andlikewise transmits to the central station repeatedsignals to show that one or more of, the sprinklerheads of the system which is controlled by the device are open.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described,without departing from 'the'spirit of-my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sprinkler sys tern and an electric circuit including an inthe pressure of the water in 'thesystemyand means cooperating with and adapted to be automatically actuated by the clock-work when the apparatus is set for use fortransinitting a signal through the circuit.

2. The combination'with a sprinkler system and an electric clrcuit including an indicator,1of a chamberin communication with the system, a spring-held diaphragm in said chamber, which diaphragm is adapted to be acted upon by the pressure of the water in thesystem when one or more of the heads in the system are opened, a normally wound clock-work, a spring-held member for normally holding the clock-work against movement, which member is acted upon by the diaphragm when the latter is actuated by the pressure of the water in the system, means adapted to be operated by the "clockwork for transmitting a series of repeated signals through the circuit, and automatically operating means cooperating with the clock work for actuating the transmitting means to transmit through the circuit a single signal when the spring whichactuates the clock work has been, completely wound and the device is set for use.

' 3. The combination with a sprinkler sys tem and an electriccircuit including an in dicator, of a spring-held diaphragm adapted to be actednlpon by the pressure of the wa ter in the system when one or more of the heads in said system are opened, a train of spring-driven gearing, means adapted to be operated thereby for transmitting signals through the system, automatically operating means cooperating with the springdriven gearing for actuating the signal producing meansto transmit a single warning.

signal through the circuit when the apparatus is set for use, and a'spring-held member normally engaging a portion of the gearing to hold the samejagainst movement, which inemberis adapted to be actuated by the diaphragm when the same is subjected to pressure of thewater in the system.

.4. The combination with a sprinkler system and anelectric circuit including an indicator, of a spring-held dlaphragm adaptedt'o be acted upon by the pressure of the water the system when one or'more of the heads .in'said system are opened, a train of s rin -driven 'earin" means adaoted to be a a a l.

operated thereby for" transmitting signals and the distributing pipes 11 leading tion of the supply pipe and riser below the from said riser are filled with air under pressure and this air is prevented'from escaping from the pipes by theupper one of the check valves. The neutral chamber 15 within the valve housing is normally filled with air, the same being under a certain degree of pressure from the water in that porlower one of check valves 14, but the pres sure of this airis insuflicientto move diaphragm 18 upwardly against the resistance offered by coil spring 23, and consequently pins 22 and 24 are normally held at their a as lower limit of movement with finger 59. of arm 58 bearing on top of the upper one of nuts 24 (said arm being under control of spring 57) and when so positioned the upper end of arm 58 engages one end of cross plate 46, thereby acting as a stop and holding the train. of gearing against movement.

Under normal conditions the various parts of the operating mechanism occupy the positions seen in Fig. ,3.

It will be understood that in devices of this character it is desirable and essential that the central station be notified that the spring is wound and that the device is in condition for proper operation and to this end I have provided means for automatically transmitting a single signal to the central station when the spring. has been completely wound. V i

Spring 27 is woundby the application of a key to the projecting endof shaft 26 and when the winding movement has been. completed disks 2-9 and 52 occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 5 with the pin 52 of arm 49 occupying the lower end of the concentric portion of slot 52, .thereby holding finger out of engagement with the shoulder on disk 47, and pin 62 on arm 61 occupies a position on the high concentric edge of disk 52, thereby rocking shaft 56 so that the up per end thereof is moved out of engagement with the cross plate 46 and pin is withdrawn from notch 35. When so positioned there is nothing to hold the train of gearing against operation resulting from the power stored in spring 27 and as said power acts, shaft 26 and gear wheel 28 are moved anti-clock-wise'and this movement is transmittedv to the various members forming the train of gearing, the shafts on which said members are mounted, andthe parts carried thereby. .As shaft 26 is operated by the parts make a complete revolution during which time the disk 52 is moving a comparatively short distance, this difference in ginning of the movement the parts are in the positions seen in Fig.5 and after the disk 52 has moved a comparatively short distance pin 62 will ride off the high concentric portion a of'disk 52 onto the lower eccentric portion 6, thereby. permitting shaft 56 to rock slightly and which rocking movement occurs when disk 34: has made a complete revolution so that pin 60 drops into notch'35. The torsional spring 57 is effec tive in bringing about the movement of arm 58 and as soon as this movement takes place the upper end of said arm moves into the path of travel of the cross plate 46, and one end of the latteris engaged to stop and hold the train of gearing against further movenent.

Shaft 32 which carries pinion 31 makes a complete revolution as just describ'ech' and the teeth 64 on disk 63 pass the contact fingers 71 and 68 of springs 70 and 67, thereby sending in to the centralstation a single signal to indicate that the device is properly wound and set for use. After this single signal has been transmitted through thecircuit to the central station the various operating parts of the device occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 3. In the event that one or more of the sprinkler 'headsin that section of the system in which my improved device is located open by reason of heat from an adjacent fire or through accident the release of air through the opened head or heads naturally lowers the pressure in the distributing pipesll and riser 10 above the upper one of check valves 14., thereby permitting water in the riser and supply pipe below the check valves to rush upwardly through the neutral chamber 15 and upwardly through riser and its distributing'pipes, and which place, connection 16 will be instantly filled with water and the pressure thereof will be directed against the underside of diaphragm 18, thereby raising the same and overcoming, the resistance offered by spring 23. Following this action pin 23 carrying nuts 24' will be moved upward, thereby engaging finger 59 on the lower end of arm 58 and swinging the latter so that its upper end is moved outward away from the cross plate 46- This releases the train of gearing and the same immediately starts to operate under the power stored in spring 27 and disk 29 carried by shaft 26 will make practically a complete revolution during a portion of which; the edge of said disk bears against that portion of the disk 52 between the notches 57 Gear wheel 28 drives pinion 31 causing the to inn-kc several revoluthrough the system, a spring-held member normally engaging a portion of the gearing to hold the same against movement, which member is adapted to be actuated by the diaphragm when the same is subjected to pressure of the water in the system, and automatically operating means cooperating with the spring driven gearing for releasing the holding member to permit the gearing and the transmitting means to operate and transmit a single signal through the circuit when the driving spring or the gearing is wound and the device set for operation.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a normally wound clock-work, means adapted to be actuated thereby for producing signals in an electric circuit, means arranged to operate automatically when the device is set for use for effecting an operation of the signal transmitting means to transmit a single signal, a spring-held member for normally holding the clock-work against operation, a member adapted to be operated by the pressure of the water in the system with which the device is associated, and connections between said last mentioned member and the clock work holding member.

6. In an apparatusof the class described, a normally wound clock-work, means adapted to be actuated thereby for producing sig nals in an electric circuit, a spring-held member for normally holding the clockwork against operation, a member adapted to be operated by the pressure of the'water in the system with which the device is associated, connections between said last mentioned member and the clock work holding member, and means for automatically effecting a release of the clock-work holding means to permit the same to operate for a predetermined period of time immediately after the spring of said clock-work has been tor, of a spring-driven signaling device cooperating with the circuit, means adapted to be actuated by thepressure of the water in the system when one or more of the heads in said system are opened for normally holding the spring-driven means against operation, and automatically operating means adapted to release the holding means .to permit a partial operation of the signaling means at the time the apparatus is properly set for use.

8. The combination with a sprinkler system and a circuit provided with an indicator, of a housing, the chamber Within which is in communication with the sprinkler system, a spring-held diaphragm within said housing, a spring-driven signaling device 00- operating with the circuit, a sprmgheld member adapted to be actuated by the diaphragm, which member normally engages a portion of the signaling device to hold it against operation, and automatically operating means adapted to release the holding means to permit a partial operation of the signaling means at the time the apparatus is roperly set for use.

l n testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of January, 1915.

CHARLES E. POTTER.

Witnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batente, Weahlngton, D. G. 

